Psychiatrist bites two gardai in popular Limerick bar

Reporter:

Anne Sheridan

10 Mar 2013

0

A CONSULTANT psychiatrist employed by the HSE has been charged with assaulting two garda officers and a member of staff outside Nancy Blake’s bar in Limerick in a “highly irate and agitated state” last summer.

A CONSULTANT psychiatrist employed by the HSE has been charged with assaulting two garda officers and a member of staff outside Nancy Blake’s bar in Limerick in a “highly irate and agitated state” last summer.

Limerick District Court heard that Dr Seamus O Flaithbheartaigh, 51, with an address at Castlemara, Annacotty – would not be contesting the four charges set against him.

Dr O Flaithbheartaigh is also an adjunct senior clinical lecturer attached to the University of Limerick’s graduate medical school.

Solicitor Darach McCarthy was seeking to have the case adjourned this Wednesday, but Judge Aeneas McCarthy insisted that he would hear the facts in the case and then adjourn the matter for mitigating evidence to be heard.

Sergeant Donal Cronin told the court that at around 1am on Saturday, July 7, 2012, a male was observed by gardai to be in a highly irate and agitated state, and was being restrained by a number of males at the popular Denmark Street bar.

Gardai approached the male, who then bit them both and a member of staff as he tried to assist the arresting gardai.

The defendant has been charged with assaulting a male garda attached to Mayorstone garda station, assaulting a female garda during the execution of her duties, and assaulting a male staff member of the bar.

The female garda was bitten on her left hand and had to receive medical treatment. The male garda was also bitten, but his injuries were less severe, court heard. Dr O Flaithbheartaigh has also been charged with intoxication in a public place on the same date.

Sgt Cronin said the accused was very intoxicated and did not co-operate with gardai at first.

“As soon as he came to his sober senses he was very apologetic,” said Sgt Cronin.

The defendant hasn’t come to garda attention since the incident.

His case was due to be heard in April next, however the court was told he is out of the country for a number of weeks around that time.

Judge McCarthy said the accused should not be out of the country when his case is due to be heard, but accepted he was not a flight risk.

The case is due for mention on March 27, and the accused will be excused from attending on that day.

Mr McCarthy indicated that he would be presenting references for his client in one of the next hearings.

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